Supporting virtually simultaneous operation of dual wireless protocols in a single device

ABSTRACT

Appearance of simultaneous connections is provided to devices that support two wireless protocols which are not permitted to operation simultaneously. As an example the method and systems disclosed are applied to the communication between a phone and a smartwatch wherein Bluetooth (BT) classic protocol is used for e.g. voice commands and phone calls and Bluetooth low Energy (BLE) protocol is used for data notifications. In a first embodiment of the disclosure automatic mode switching between BT and BLE is provided. In a second embodiment a dual-ID device utilizes separate IDs for both protocols in time multiplexed connections. It operates as logically independent devices with individual ID&#39;s although physically it is a single device.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

This disclosure relates generally to wireless communications and relatesin particular to devices supporting two wireless protocols which are notpermitted to operation simultaneously, either by protocol definition orby functional limitation of hardware.

Background

There are devices that support two wireless protocols which, by theirown definitions, are not permitted to operate simultaneously, either byprotocol definition or by functional limitation of hardware. A verycommon and important example of such a configuration is where a phonemay be connected wirelessly to a smartwatch, as shown in FIG. 1 priorart below, over two Bluetooth protocols:

1. Bluetooth Basic Rate/Extended Data Rate (BR/EDR) Controller—herebyreferred to as Bluetooth Classic (BT) and

2. Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Controller

In the scenario shown in FIG. 1 prior art, both devices support the twoprotocols, but may only be connected using one of the two, at any giventime, as is apparent in FIG. 2 prior art which shows the status of thephone in such a situation. The smartwatch in this case connects eitheras a BT device called e.g. Martian Watch, or as a BLE device called e.g.Martian Smart, as is shown connected in FIG. 2 prior art. It has to beunderstood that the application shown in FIG. 2 prior art is only anexample of communication problems with devices supporting two wirelessprotocols which are not permitted to operate simultaneously, either byprotocol definition or by functional limitation of hardware.

BT is used for voice applications, such as voice commands and phonecalls, and BLE is used by many phones for data notifications generatedby apps such as emails, messages, and news. Both protocols are essentialfor a smartwatch that supports voice as well as notification functions,even though they cannot be in connected states simultaneously. Torequire manual settings by the users to switch mode every time would beextremely inconvenient.

It is a challenge to designers of communication devices to achievemethods by which a device such as e.g. the smartwatch can provide theappearance of simultaneous connections to the user, in that there isseamless transitions between the modes of operations between the twoprotocols and that all functions are made available to the user withoutexplicit mode-switching by the user.

SUMMARY

A principal object of the present disclosure is to provide appearance ofsimultaneous connections to devices that support two wireless protocolswhich are not permitted to operate simultaneously, either by protocoldefinition or by functional limitation of hardware.

A further object of the present disclosure is to provide seamlesstransitions between modes of operations between the two protocols andthat all functions are made available to the user without explicitmode-switching by the user.

A further object of the present disclosure is to enable seamlessswitching between BT and BLE modes with no user intervention, andminimizing perceived time latency for switching by carrying out otheroperations during the time of switching.

A further object of the present disclosure is to achieve a Dual-ID BTand BLE device to support truly simultaneous voice and data connectionsbetween device and Bluetooth master.

A further object of the present disclosure is to achieve an efficientimplementation of the Dual-ID device with reduced increase in complexitycompared to typical dual-mode Bluetooth device.

In accordance to the objects of the disclosure a method to provideappearance of simultaneous connections between two devices eachsupporting two different wireless communication protocols which are notpermitted to operate simultaneously has been achieved. The methoddisclosed comprises, firstly, the steps of: (1) connecting both devicesusing a first wireless communication protocol, (2) receiving by a firstof both devices an external wireless event or a user action-triggeredmode switch, and (3) sending, in case of an external wireless event, anotification of said external wireless event to a user of the firstdevice and go to step (4), else, in case of a user action-triggered modeswitch go to step (4). Furthermore the method comprises the steps of:(4) disconnecting the first device from using the first wirelessprotocol, (5) connecting the first device to the second device using thesecond wireless protocol, (6) checking, in case of the external wirelessevent, for a correspondent user action and, if it so, executingcorrespondent user action and go to step (9), else, after waiting for adefined time span without correspondent user action, go to step (9), and(7) sending, in case of a user action-triggered mode switch, messagesfrom the first device to the second device using the second wirelessprotocol according to the user action. Moreover the method comprises thesteps of: (8) sending messages from the second device to the firstdevice using the second wireless protocol according to the user action,(9) checking, if a new user action or a new external wireless event haveoccurred, and, if it so, go to step (3) else go to step (10), (10)disconnecting both devices from using the second wireless protocol, and(11) connecting both devices using the first wireless communicationprotocol.

In accordance to the objects of the disclosure a system to provideappearance of simultaneous connections between two devices eachsupporting two different wireless communication protocols which are notpermitted to operate simultaneously has been achieved. The systemdisclosed comprises: a first of the two devices utilizing dual separatecommunication protocol addresses for the two wireless communicationprotocols in time-multiplexed connection with a second of both devices,wherein the first device is configured to support both wirelessprotocols as a dual mode device, wherein the first device is configuredto operate as two logical independent devices with independent addressesalthough it is a single physical device, and the second of the twodevices configured as dual wireless protocol master.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of thisdescription, there is shown:

FIG. 1 prior art shows an example of two devices connected wirelesslyover two different Bluetooth protocols.

FIG. 2 prior art shows an example of a phone supporting two protocolsbut being enabled to use only one protocol at any given time.

FIG. 3 shows the flow chart of a first embodiment of the AutomaticMode-Switching method, namely user action-triggered mode switching.

FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of a second embodiment of the AutomaticMode-Switching method, namely an external event-triggered mode switchingmethod.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of a smartwatch with BT and BLE functionsthat have independent BD_ADDR addresses and connect to the phone as twoseparate slave devices.

FIG. 6 shows the aspect of efficient hardware implementation disclosedwithin the Bluetooth core system architecture.

DESCRIPTION

The preferred embodiments of the present disclosure present methods andsystems to provide appearance of simultaneous connections to devicesthat support two wireless communication protocols which are notpermitted to operate simultaneously. The simultaneous operation is notpermitted either by protocol definition, as in the case of BT and BLE,wherein the two devices are not permitted to operate simultaneouslyunder some states for each device, or are not permitted due tofunctional limitation of the hardware for each device.

The methods are explained using, as a non-limiting example, a smartwatchsupporting Bluetooth Classic (BT) and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)communication protocols. Both protocols are not permitted tosimultaneous operation due to protocol definition.

It has to be understood that the methods and systems disclosed areapplicable to any devices supporting any two wireless communicationprotocols, which are not permitted to operate simultaneously either byprotocol definition, as in the case of BT and BLE, that the two devicesare not permitted to operate simultaneously under some states for eachdevice, or are not permitted due to functional limitation of thehardware for each device

1. Automatic Mode-Switching:

The device, e.g. a smartwatch stays in BLE mode normally for low poweroperations, and switches mode automatically upon a user action orexternal event to perform operations supported only in BT mode, and uponcompletion of those functions, switches back automatically to BLE mode.

FIG. 3 shows the flow chart of a first embodiment of the AutomaticMode-Switching method, namely user action-triggered mode switching useraction-triggered mode switching, for example due to a button press toactivate voice-command functions. The smartwatch automaticallydisconnects from a phone as a BLE device and reconnects back to thephone immediately as a BT device, sends the messages corresponding tothe user actions, and upon completion of which, disconnects as a BTdevice from the phone and reconnects back to the phone as a BLE device.

Step 30 of the method illustrated by FIG. 3 shows connecting thesmartwatch to a phone using the Bluetooth BLE protocol. Steps 31/32/33depict disconnecting the smartwatch from the BLE connection by a useraction as e.g. pressing a button and connecting the smartwatch to thephone using the classic BT protocol.

It should be noted that at the press of the button, the BLE transceiverinside the Watch initiates the termination of the BLE connection betweenthe Watch and the Phone by sending the required messages and follow theBLE protocol for connection termination. Upon completion of thetermination process, the BT transceiver inside the Watch (which can bephysically the same component as the BLE transceiver) initiates a BTconnection to the phone by sending the required messages and followingthe BT protocol for connection setup. The action is complete when the BTconnection is set up and the Watch communicates to the Phone via the BTprotocol.

It should be also noted that steps 32 and 33 are performed upon the useraction of step 31 and no additional user action is required forconnecting the device to the phone via the classic BT protocol. Step 34describes sending classic BT messages from the smartwatch to the phonecorresponding to a user action. Step 35 illustrates receiving Bluetoothmessages from the phone to the smartwatch corresponding to user action.Step 36 describes a waiting loop waiting for more actions. In case moreuser actions are to be performed the process flow goes back to step 34in order to execute the desired action in steps 34 and 35.

After a Time-Out, i.e. a time span without a user action, the deviceautomatically falls back to a BLE connection mode in order to savepower.

FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of a second embodiment of the AutomaticMode-Switching method, namely an external event-triggered mode switchingmethod such as by e.g. an incoming call. In this case the smartwatch mayalert the user as e.g. in case of an incoming call, and immediatelyswitches automatically from BLE to BT mode without waiting for any userresponse such as pushing a button to answer to call. The call can thenbe connected until the mode switch is complete and user has taken actionto accept the call. The perceived delay due to mode-switching isminimized as the time for mode-switching overlaps the time for userresponse, as shown in FIG. 4. Finally at the completion of theoperations such as the termination of a call by the user, the smartwatchswitches back automatically into BLE mode.

Identical steps of the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 and 4 are signified by thesame step numbers.

The first step 30 of the flowchart of FIG. 4, namely connecting thesmartwatch using the Bluetooth BLE protocol, is identical to the firststep of the method of FIG. 3. In following steps 41/42 an externalevent, as e.g. an incoming call, happens and the smartwatch sends acorresponding notification to the user. The following steps 32/33signify the time required for mode switching and depict disconnectingthe smartwatch from the BLE connection activated by the external eventof step 41 and connecting the smartwatch using the classic BT protocol.The next step 36 illustrates waiting for a user action corresponding tothe external event until a time-out is activated if no action is taken.In case no action is taken the process flow goes to step 37 where thesmartwatch is disconnected from the classic BT protocol and in thefollowing step 38 the smart watch is connected as a BLE device. In casethe user takes action in response to the alert sent in step 42 thecorrespondent action is taken in step 43 and the process flow isproceeds to step 37.

Steps 42, 32, 33 and 36 including the time out span of step 36 definethe time available to the user to respond to the alert.

It should be noted that the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 and 4 describe twooperations of the smartwatch, namely user action-triggered mode switch(FIG. 3) and external wireless triggered mode switch (FIG. 4). It isobvious that the smartwatch is configured to support both switchingmodes and that therefore the both flowcharts can be combined since inreality both switching modes can happen any time.

2. Dual-ID (Communication Protocol Addresses) Device Utilizing SeparateAddresses (IDs)

The Dual-ID device utilizes separate IDs (i.e. Bluetooth addresses) forthe two different modes in time-multiplexed connections: in case ofusing Bluetooth, the device (smartwatch) contains both BT and BLE as adual mode device, but furthermore it operates as logically twoindependent devices with individual ID's being Bluetooth Addresses(BD_ADDR) although physically it is a single device. In this case thephone, being a dual-mode BT and BLE master, may connect to thesmartwatch simultaneously in BT and BLE modes as logically twoindependent devices.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of a smartwatch 50 with BT and BLEfunctions that have independent BD_ADDR and connect to the phone as twoseparate slave 51/52 devices, wherein the BT classic slave 51 is hatchedto the right side and the BLE slave 52 is hatched to the left side. Asthe phone 53 is a dual-mode Bluetooth master in this case, communicationto the two slaves is naturally time-multiplexed as controlled by themaster. The communication data blocks according to BT classic protocolare also hatched to the right and the communication data blocksaccording to BLE protocol are also hatched to the left, This means thatthe two slaves may share a lot of the hardware even though it is not thetypical dual-mode controller that supports simultaneous BT and BLE as amaster. This special case of dual-ID device that can connect as twoseparate slaves to the same master, in BT and BLE modes, lends itself toefficient hardware implementation as another major feature of thisinvention.

FIG. 6 shows the aspect of efficient hardware implementation disclosedwithin the Bluetooth core system architecture [Bluetooth SpecificationVersion 4.0, Vol. 1, pp. 31]. Compared to the typical dual-modecontroller that can share all the controller blocks between BT and BLE,this dual-ID device would contain individual instantiations of allblocks related to the specific BD_ADDR, as shown by FIG. 6 wherein theblocks related to BT classic ADDR are signified by the label 60 and theblocks related to BLE ADDR are signified by the label 61.

Key advantages of the Dual-ID device disclosed utilizing separate Idsfor two different modes are:

1. Seamless switching between BT and BLE modes with no userintervention, and minimizing perceived time latency for switching bycarrying out other operations, such as alerting the user and waiting foruser input, during the time of switching.

2. Dual-ID (Bluetooth addresses) BT and BLE device to support trulysimultaneous voice and data connections between device and Bluetoothmaster.

3. Efficient implementation of the Dual-ID device with only smallincrease in complexity compare to typical dual-mode Bluetooth device.

It has to be noted that the methods and systems applying BT classic andBLE protocols shown above are non-limiting examples only. The systemsand methods can be applied to any other dual protocol applications.

While the disclosure has been particularly shown and described withreference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method to provide appearance of simultaneousconnections between two devices each supporting two different wirelesscommunication protocols which are not permitted to operatesimultaneously, the method comprising the steps of: (1) connecting bothdevices using a first wireless communication protocol; (2) receiving bya first of both devices an external wireless event or a useraction-triggered mode switch; (3) sending, in case of an externalwireless event, a notification of said external wireless event to a userof the first device and go to step (4), else, in case of a useraction-triggered mode switch go to step (4); (4) disconnecting the firstdevice from using the first wireless protocol; (5) connecting the firstdevice to the second device using the second wireless protocol; (6)checking, in case of the external wireless event, for a correspondentuser action and, if it so, executing correspondent user action and go tostep (9), else, after waiting for a defined time span withoutcorrespondent user action, go to step (9); (7) sending, in case of auser action-triggered mode switch, messages from the first device to thesecond device using the second wireless protocol according to the useraction; (8) sending messages from the second device to the first deviceusing the second wireless protocol according to the user action; (9)checking, if a new user action or a new external wireless event haveoccurred, and, if it so, go to step (3) else go to step (10); (10)disconnecting both devices from using the second wireless protocol; and(11) connecting both devices using the first wireless communicationprotocol.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device is asmartwatch and the second device is a phone.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein the first wireless protocol is Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)communication protocol and the second wireless protocol is BluetoothClassic (BT) protocol.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein BLEcommunication protocol is used for relative low power consumingoperations.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the relative low poweroperations comprise data notifications generated by apps comprisingemails, messages and news.
 6. The method of claim 3, wherein the BTprotocol is used for voice applications.
 7. The method of claim 6,wherein the voice applications comprise voice commands and phone calls.8. The method of claim 1, wherein the user action-triggered mode switchis activated by pressing a button of the first device.
 9. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the external wireless event is an incoming phone call.